SWOSU Receives Gift of over $437,000 for Scholarships

04.03.2008

Jim Waites (center), vice president for institutional advancement at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, accepts a check of over $437,000 from the estates of W.W. and Elsie Ward. The money was designated to be used for scholarships in the Everett Dobson School of Business & Technology at SWOSU. Making the presentation are (left) David. L. Moore, vice president at First National Bank & Trust Company of Clinton, and Herschel Brewster, president of First National Bank of Weatherford.

The late W.W. and Elsie Ward have left over $437,000 to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

Jim Waites, vice president for institutional advancement at SWOSU, said the money is designated to be used for scholarships in the Everett Dobson School of Business & Technology.

William Wedekind (known as W.W.) and Elsie Ward were long-time residents of Weatherford. W.W. retired in 1976 after spending 30 years at SWOSU. He was long-time chairman of the Division of Business and Business Education and faculty sponsor for the student government association.

W.W. was a 1936 graduate of SWOSU. Before coming to the university, he was principal at Riverview, Texola and Putnam. He married Elsie Prock of Erick in 1933.

The Wards were active in the Weatherford community. W.W. was a past president of the Kiwanis Club and board member of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and Weatherford Community Fund Drive. Both he and Elsie were active members of Federated Church.